Oct. 16, 2001, 3:37 p.m. (Message 27901)
Recently I posted an invitation to join the Richmond Scottish Dancers at the annual Celtic Festival and Highland Games. In light of what happened on September 11, we have decided to include a dance not listed on our program and which the devisor, Betty Lee Barnes has kindly given permission to be printed on Strathspey. The dance is "Oh My America!" and we will dance it to a wonderful set of traditional American patriotic tunes arranged by David Wiesler with a four bar introduction to "The Stars and Stripes". Bow and curtsey on the 3rd and 4th bar. With David's dazzling keyboard skills and our other David's (Knight) exciting and stirring fiddling, this should be a real highlight of the program. Since the "aide memoirs" have already been distributed and I know most dancers will want to take part in this dance, this is the best way to spread the information. I will add a page to the dance booklets available on the day so come early and pick up your booklet. Stella Fogg Richmond, VA Oh My America! 88 bar reel for 4 couples in a square set 1-8 All turn partner 4 bars right hand, turn corner 4 bars left hand 9-16 1st and 3rd couples change places in center of set with facing person right hand (2 bars), meld into 4 hands once round, change back to place right hand 17-24 2nd and 4th couples repeat 25-32 1st and 3rd couples right hands across, left hands back, while 2nd and 4th couples cast to meet) 2nd lady and 4th man, 4th lady and 2nd man), turn once round right hand, dance back to place 33-40 reverse above roles 41-48 corners dance around each other left shoulders (skip change; same pattern as back to back but facing each other), then partners dance round each other right shoulder, finishing ladies facing out, men in, in original positions 49-64 Schiehallion reels (man dances straight into the position of the lady of the couple on his right, lady dances a half circle into her partner's position (2 bars), then man dances half circle into adjoining man's position while his partner follows his track of the previous 2 bars; Repeat these four bars back to original positions 65-68 1st couple turns right hands 69-72 1st couple turns left hands, 2nd couple turns right hands, both couples finishing in promenade position facing clockwise around set (ladies on their partner's right) 73-76 1st and 2nd couples (2nd couple leading) promenade round outside of set while 3rd couple turns right hands 77-80 1st and 2nd couples continue promenade to finish in places, 3rd couple turn left hands, 4th couple turn right hands 81-88 8 hands round and back